Amusement apparatus



Aprll 26'1927 E. K. wooo ET AL AIUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1o. 1925 sSheets-sheet 1 www April 26, 1927.

E. K. WOOD ET AL AIUSEIIENT APPARATUS Filed NOV; 10. 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet2 fczwarczodd @n/@329er deceased,

4 l M atlnoqfa E. K. WOOD ET AL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS April 26, 1927.1,625,877

Filed Nov. 1o. v1925 6 sheets-Sheet 3 ,gig/1 f z wf,

i r M tbnuap E. K. WOOD ET AL AMUSEMBNT APPARATUS April 26, 1927.

Filed Nov. 1o. 1925 e sheets-sheet 4 JZZ 26 1927. A Apu] E. K. wooo ETAl.

AMUSEMENT vAPPARATQS Filed NOVr l0. 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 26,1927. 1,625,877

v E. K. WOOD ET AL AMUSEMENTXPPARATUS Filed Nov. 1o. 1925 6.sheets-sheet 6 attenta@ Patented pr. 26, 1927.

entre!)v srArss EDV/'ARD K. WOOD, GF VJILIVIINGTON, AND JOHN PATENTOFFICE.

Mar/zona, DnonAsEn, LATE: oF

VENICE, CALIFORNIA; BY CONSTANCE I. METZ'GER, ADMINISTRATRIX, OF VENICE,CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS 'IO All-IUSEMENT ENGINEERING CORPORATION OF CALI-FORNIA, GF LGS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 0F CALIFORNIA.

AMUSEMENT Applieationvfrled November 10, 1925. Serial No. 68,077.

This invention relates to amusement apparatus olf' the type having anumber ot arms mounted tor rotation around a con1- mon axis, andprovid-ed at their outer ends with passenger-carrying devices.

An object of the invention is to malte provision for holding` the armsagainst beingswung outwardly by centrifugal force during acceleration ofthe passenger-carrying devices, and 'tor releasingl the arms so thatcentrifugal torce will swing` them, together with the passcnger-carryingdevices, outwardly, thus giving` a sense' of relatively great lateralmotion to the passengers on ioard.

Another object ,ofi this invention is to make provision forsin'iultaneously releasing` diametrically opposite arms otl the ap*paratus, thus to minimize. eccentric loading' ot the apparatus.

Another object is to provide 'tor effect-ive control ot the arm releasemeans.

il. further object is to mahe provision for yieldingiy bringingthe armsto rest atthe inner ends of their arcs ot mmfement,4 or, in other words.when said arms more into position tor latching.

llther objects and advantages will app-ear in the sab'dioined detailedde iption.

'The accompanying drawings illustrate the in Vention li l is a sideelevation ot an amusement apparatus constructed in accordance with theprovisions ot this invention, somo ot the arms and their associatedpassengercarrying; devices being omitted, and those shown being in theirlatched positions.

2 is a diagranunatic view illustratine the tluid and electricalconnections tor operating the various latches.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged edge view of the lower portieri of one ot the armsand the associated passenger-carrying' device, tolrather with the latchand a portion of the mechanism for releasing` said latch.

Fig. 4l is an enlarged fragmental detail ot' the latch mechanism shownin Fig. 3.

Fi an enlarged plan view of a port the latch releasing mechanism shownin Fic; 3.

6 a sectional elevation on aline irulicatc-fl hy '5-G. Fig.

Fig. 7 is an end view left thereof.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the relay air control shown in Fig.l.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation on the line indicated by 9-9, Fig. 8.

Fig. l0 is a sectional elevation of the electrically controlled airvalve, the parts being in position to shut oit air from the air supplyand 'to -exhaustair from the relay valve induction pipe.

Fig. l1 is a plan section on the line indicated by ll--l1, Fig. l0.

Fig. l2 is a tragmental sectional elevation .similar to Fig. lll,showingl the parts in position to admit air to the relay air valveinduction pipe.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the tower.

Fig'. l/-l is an enlarged view ot the lower end portion ot' the standardshowing the air line connections, a portion ot the standard being insection.

Fig. l5 is a plan view of the roller hearings and tlieii' inounting.

Fig'. 16 is an enlarged detail ot one ot the roller supporting; beamsand its rollers and a fragment of the race that rides upon said rollers.

lle'lri,i'iiuijv to the drawings, there is provided a suitable tower orframe which is indicated in general by the character 2l. In thisinstance, the tower or trame l is mainly ot' structural steel or ironwith a central vertical tubular standard or meinv bei' 29 'from whichradiate members L3., 2l ot the trame, -The outer ends ot the arms 23 arctied together by members 25 arrange-d in the form of a hexagon. Thetrame also comprises braces Q6 secured at their lower ends to thetubular standard 22, and eX- tending aslant upwardly and outwardly andsecured at their outer ends to the members The tower also has othercross braces Ql.

Hinged to the members 23 are arms 2T which may be of latticed steelconstruction so that they will be relatively light and strong. The arms27 are hinged so that their upper ends are positioned alongside ot themembers 25. Thus, in this instance, there are six ot the arms Q7' andsaid arms are of Fig. 5 Jfrom the oit the upper end arranged in pairsconsisting oit diametrically opposed arms. rlhis position of the arms 27is preierred so that diametrically opposed arms 27 will balance eachother and not produce eccentric strains on the tower.

The tower is rotatably mounted and driving mechanism is provided torotate `the tower, all oi which will be described more in detailhereinafter.

From the foregoing it will appear that when the tower Ll is rotated thearms 27 will turn with the towerl and centrifugal force will tend toswing the arms Q7 outwardly. Pivot-ally suspended vifromthe lower endsof the arms QT are passenger-carrying devices or carriages 23, therebeing, in this instance, one such carriage associated with each arm 27.Because ot the pivotal connection between the carriages E23 and the arms27, said carriages can swing at different angles relative to the arms2f? and will remain horizontal when the tower is stationary and will.tend to swing into alineinent with the arms when the tower is turned. Inthis particular instance the carriages 28 are preferably in the form ot'aeroplanes.

Alleleasable latching means are provided for holding the arms againstbeing swung outwardly by centrifugal torce when the tower is rotating,and such means are constructed, in this instance,ras follows: Thelatehing means for the different arms are alike and, therefore, only oneot such means will be described in detail. Referring more particularlyto Figs. 3 and t, the arm 27 carries a pivot Q9 on its outer tace andconnected with the pivot 29 is a. latch arm or arms 30 which are longerthan the thickness of the arm Q7, so as to project inwardly past theinner face of the arm. The latch arms 30 have downwardly projectingshoulders 31 near their inner ends adapted to be respectively engaged bythe arms 32 ot latching levers which are -lfulcruined at 33 on a bracket3l bolted or otherwise s=cured to the tower. Each ot said levers alsocomprises an arm 35, and means are provided to operate the arms 35 intoposition to `latch or unlatch the latching arms 30.

In this instance the means for operating the levers 32. is constructedas follows To each of the lever arms 35 is pivoted at 36 a connectingrod 37, and the connecting rods are pivoted by pins 3S to a cross-head39 on the outer end of a plunger i-0. The plunger worlrs in a cylinderl1 and is hollow so as to contain a fluid 4t2. preferably a liquid suchas water. The interior of the plunger Ll.) communicates through atubular member 413 with a stand-pipe ill, said stand-pipe supplying thehydrostatic head against which the. plunger ll0 must be driven on itsout stroke. The outer end ot the plunger 40 is provided with a packinggland to minimize leakage between the tubular member supported by abracket 48 which is secured to one of the members of the tower 2l.

The latch operating mechanism just described is provided for eachlatching lever 32, 35, six in this instance, and the air supply pipes 4Tot the cylinder 4l communicate, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, with relayair valves, respectively, which will now be described. The relay airvalves are ot' like construction and, accordingly, only one oi themneeds to be described in detail. Referring more particularly to Fig. 9,the pipe ai' communicates with a port df) in a cylinder 50. At oppositeends ot the cylinder 5U are ports 5l, 52, rc

spectively controlled by valves Fiel. tipi-ings o5 tend to close thevalves 53, 54.

Leading from the port fil) to the ports 51, is a duct 56. Both ot thevalves 53, open outwardly and close inwardly, and the duct 56communicates with the outer end of the port 51 and with the inner end otthe port The valves 53, 5st are provided with valve stems 57, 58 whichextend toward each other, and the inner ends of the stems are spacedapart on opposite sides of a plunger 59 which works in the cylinder 5l).'lhe plunger 59 is provided with two pressure areas, a lower pressurearea 60 and a higher pressure area. (il. That is to say, the area 61 isgreater than the area (S0. The pressure area ($0 works in the smallercylinder chamber 62, and the larger pressure area (31 works in thelarger cylinder chamber 63. Communicating with the cylinder chamber G2is an air inlet Get with which communi- Cates a compressed air supplypipe (i5 that extends to a suitable source ot' supply. Communicatingwith the cylinder chamber 63 is an air inlet 66 with which commuuicatcsan air supply pipe (57.

From the foregoing it will appear that the air pressure is constant iuthe air chamber ($2 against the smaller pressure area (il), thus tendingto move the plunger 59 to the right in Fig. 9 and holding 'it in theposition shown in said ligure, thus permitting the valve 54 to close andopening the valve 53. Opening of the valve 54E permits air to pass fromthe chamber (Si through the port 52, duct 56, port l0 into the pipe il?.Preferably, the fluid in the pipe e7, at least in part, is a liquid suchas water and the air thus admitted to the pipe 47 will create pressureagainst the `liquid and thus produce pressure in the associated cylinderLlil so as to actuate the plunger 42 to the left in Fig. (3 to thusrelease the latch arm 30 from the lever arm 32 to free the arm 9.7.

In order to operate the plunger Gl to the lett in Fig. 9 so as to openthe valve 54 and permit closing of the valve 53, the admission loo lll:

of air to the chamber 63 is effected by the following described means,said means, in this instance, consisting of an electrically operatedvalve 68 shown in detail in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. In Fig. 2 it will beobserved that each pair of relay valves is connected to one of theelectrically operated valves 68. F or this reason the pipes 67 of eachtwo relay valves connects with one of the electrically operated valves68. It will be seen in Fig. 2 that each pair of relay valves associatedwith a single electrically operated valve is arranged so that theA relayvalves of each vpair control the operation 'of diainetrically oppositelatch operating plungers so as to effect simultaneous release ofdiametrically opposed arms 27.

Since all of the electrically operated valves 68 are of likeconstruction, only one need be described in detail, and the constructionis as follows: The pipe 67` communicates with a port 69 opening into avalve chamber 70 in which is a. slide valve 71 adaptedv when movedupward in Fig. 10 to open the port 69 and admit air from the valvechamber to said port and to open another port 72 and admit air throughthe port 72 to the valve chamber 70. Communicating with the port 72 isan air supply pipe 73. lVhen the valve 71 is in position to close theport 69 from the valve chamber 70, as in Fig. 10, a port 74 in theperiphery of the valve 71 communicates with the port 69 and with anotherport 75 that opens to the atmosphere. When the valve 71 is in theposition shown in Fig. 12, air is passed to the associated relay valvesso as to simultaneously operate said relay valves. When the valve 71 isin the position shown in Fig. 10 pressure is released from the chamber63 of each of the associated relay valves through the pipe 67, ports 69,74, 75 to the atmosphere so that the air pressure can throw each relayvalve plunger 59 into position to shut off the air from the pipe 47 andpermit air to exhaust from the pipe 47 through the port 49,duct k56,port 51, chamber 63 and thence to the atmosphere through a port 751 inthe cylinder 50.

Downward movement of the valve 71 in Fig. 10 is effected by reason of astem 7 6, the said valve heilig connected with an armature 77 operatedby a solenoid 78. Upward movement of the armature 77 compresses a coilspring 79 that rests at one end against a shoulder 8() on the stem 76,and at its other end against a shoulder 81 of a bracket 82 which issecured to a housing 88 enclosing the solenoid 78. lVhen the solenoid isdenergized, expansion of the spring 79 will move the valve 71 into itsclosed position.

Now referring more particularly to Fig. 2. it will be seen that thewires 84, leading from each solenoid connect respectively other contacts91 of the relay switches are connected by wires 92 to a main line 93which receives the electric current from a source indicated at 94, saidsource being` also connected by a wire 95 to brushes 96 that engage therings 87. The coils 97 of the relay switches are connected by a wire 98to a source of electric current 99 and the coils 97 are connected bywires to manual switches 101 which are mounted at any desired locationoutside of and free from the tower. The switches 101 are connected by awire 102 to the source 99 of electric current.

The mounting for the tower 21, whereby it may rotate, is constructed asfollows: The lower end of the tower 21 is provided with a race 103 whichrests upon rollers 134, 105. In this instance the rollers 104 aremounted in pairs on beams 106, and the rollers 105 are mounted in pairson the beams 106 intermediate of the rollers 104. In this instance thereare six beams ,106 arranged at the corners of a hexagonally shapedsupport 107. Preferably the beams 106 are rockably supported at theircenters as indicated at 108. The advantage of this construction is that,when the apparatus is rst constructed, the rollers 105 are temporarilyomitted so that the race 108 rides only on the bearings 104, the race103 is so large in diameter that it does not have a true bearing facewhen first installed and the tower will be rotated while a cutting toolis held in position to make a cut in the race so as to true it. During,rthis` truing operation, the rollers 104 will be accommodated to theirregularities in the race by rocking of the beams 106. After the racehas been thus trued the rollers 105 will be installed. It is to be notedthat the rollersl 105 are preferably rotatably mounted in boxes 109,which rest upon the beams 106, and that the clearance between the upperIface of said box and the race 103 is very slight so that if breakingdown of the bearing occurs at any point, the race will drop upon one ofthe boxes 109 which thus prevents such tilting of the tower as mighttend to cause it to upset.

The race 103 is provided on its periphery with a gear 110 which is inmesh with a pinion 111 on a shaft 112. The shaft 112 will be driven byany suitable power and.. since this is well understood in the mechanicarts, it is not necessary to describe in detail the connections betweenthe shaft 112 and the prime mover, not shown.

New referring more particularly to Fig. 2. there. is an air compressor,indicated at 118, and a valved pipe 114 connects said fili' -Sllcompressor with a compressed air receiver 115. Connected with the pipe114tis a valved pipe line 116 which extends through a portion ol thehollow standard 22 and which connects at its upper end with a circularmanifold pipe 117 to which are connected the pipes, 65, 73. The circularpipe 1.1.7 is suitably secured to the standard 22 and rotates with thetower.

'lhere is provided a, butler ior each ot' the arms 27 to yieldinglylimit inward swinging ot' said arms, and since the butters are all ofthe same construction, only one ot theni need be described in detail.lflach butter is constructed as follows: There is provided a cylinder122 which is con nected with the bottom olIv one of the boxes 18. ln thecylinder 122 is a plunger 123 which projects beyond the outer end ot thecylinder in position to engage the arm 2T when said arm swings inwardlytoward the hitched position shown in Fig. 1. The arm engages theplunger`123 prior to engagement ot the latch arm' 5:30 with thelatchir-.g lover arm The plunger 123 works through a stuliingbox 124- atthe outer end ot the cylinder, and the rear end ot the plunger 123projects into an enlarged portion 12a ot the cylinder. The cylindercham` ber 125 is provided with a body of water 126, and said chamber 125is in communication with an extension 12T ot' the pipe (i5. iiuce thepipe 65 connnunicates with the compressed air supply,l it will be clearthat. the water body 126 is backed by compressed air so as to yieldinglyhold the plunger 123 outwardly as in Fig. 6.

The standard 22 turns in a bearing 128 and the standard. extendsbelowthe level ot the race 103 and is provided below said l aring with areduced portion er shaft-129 on which the ring' contacts 86, 87 aremounted. The pipe line 116 passes through the shaft 129 and is providedwith an elbow 1230, a stutling box 131 on they elbow 130 permittiue`relative rotation between diil'erent sections oll the pipe line 116.

The apparatus described `above operates as follows:

Assuming that passengers have entered the carriages 28, that the arms 27are latched to the tower, power will be applied to the shalt 112 so asto rotate the tower and with it the arms 27 and carriages 28. At anytime thereafter at the will ot the operator.I he will eltect release ofthe arms by operat ing one or more ot' the switches 101. Preterably theswitches 101 will be operated in succession so as to minimize strain onthe tower when the arms are released and fly outwardly. Assuming thenthat the operator closes one ot the switches 101, this will energize oneof the relay switches so as to supply an electric current to one ot' theeleotrically operated valves 68, thus moving the slide valve 7l from theclosed position in Fig. 10 tothe open position in Fig. 11. This permitscompressed air to tlow trom the pipe 73 through pipe 0T to the pair ot'relay valves associated with said electrically1 opcrated valve. The airadmitted to the chaur ber 63 ot' each relay valve causes the plunger 59to slide to the lei't in Fig'. 0 so as to open the valve 511, thuspermitting' compressed air to tlow tromy the pipe (55 into the pipe 17.The air pressure in the pipe L17 is admitted to the cylinder 11, thusdriving' the plunger Ll0 to the lett in Fie: (i to rock the lever arm 32from the full line position in Fig, l to the broken line position, thusreleasing.v the .latch arms l0 as sociated with two ot the diametricallyopposed arms 2". (,lenlritupal torce. inst-.rullil swings the arms 27outwardly and upwardly, carrying the carriages with them. The carriageswill swing' on their pivots so as to remain upright, though they willtilt at ditl'erent angles to the horizontal according lo the speed ofrotation and the mitward swingingI ot the arms.

litter the operator has closed the switch 101 to etlect the results justdescribed. he will open or allow said switch to open, thus cutting otithe electric current from the electrically operated switch, and thespringl 7 9 will operate to close the valve 71, thus exhausting; airfrom the chaniber (i3 through the pipe G7. rl"his permits the plungerall to more tothe right so as to close 'the valve 54 and open the valve53, as in Fig. 9, whereupon air will exhaust from the cylinder Ll1through pipe L17, Jort 4:9, duct 56, port 5l, chamber (S3 and the port751 to the atmosphere. As soon as the air exhausts 'from the cylinder41, the water pressure forces the plunger 12 to the position shown in l?G. thus moving the lever arm to the latching position. The other arms 2Twill he rt leased in the same manner by operating;r thc other manualswitches. preferably one at :i time.

After the apparatus has been operated as lone' as the operator 'lesires,he will gradually reduce the speed of the prime mover so as to slow downthe rotation ol' the tower and the other rotatingT parts, whereupon thearms 27 will be caused to swing down wardlir and inwardly by gravityuntil, engaging the plungers 123, they i'orce said plunnei's inwardlyagainst the water bodies 120 which gradually yield so that the plungers123 can retract to positions that will permit the latch arms 30 to rideover the lever arms 32 and become hitched asrainst said lover arms.Preferably the pipes L1l connect, as shown in Fig. 2, with the manifoldair pipe 117 so that a pressure greater than atmospheric: is upon thewater in the pipes il.

le claim:

1. An amusement apparatus comprising lll) a rotatably mounted frame,means to rotate said frame, an arm hinged to the frame, a carriageswingingly suspended 'from the arm, releasable means to latch the armagainst swinging when the frame is rotating, and means to release thelatching means while the trame is rotating including fluid pressureactuated mechanism and electrically operated mechanism controlling thefluid pree--rure actuated mechanism.

2. iin annu-:ement apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted frame, meansto rotate said traine, an arm hinged to the frame, u carriageconnectedwith the arm, releasable ucans to latch the arm against swinging whenthe trame is rotating, and means to release the laehing means while theframe is rotating includingfluid pressure actuated mechanism andelectrically operated meclanism controlling the fluid pressure actuatcdmechanism.

3. An amusement apparatus comprising` a rotatably mounted tower, meansto rotate the tower, an arm hinged to the upper part of the tower, acarriage connected with the arm, cooperating means on the arm and on thelower part of the tower to latch the arm against swinging when the toweris rotating, fluid pressure mechanism mounted on the tower operable torelease the latching means, an electric switch positioned outside ot andfree from the tower, and electrically operated means on the toweroperable to release the latching means and electrically.

connected "ith the switch.

t. An amusement apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted trame, means torotate said frame. arms hinged diametrically opposite each other to theframe, a carriage connected with each arm, releasable means lo latcheach ot' the arms against swinging when the frame is rotating, and meansincliiding a single manually operated member to simultaneously releasethe latching means for both arms.

5. An amusement apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted frame, means torotate the frame. arms hinged to the frame, there being a plurality of'pairs of said arms and the arms of each pair being positioneddianicefically opposite each other, a carriage connected with each arm,releasab means to hold each of the arms against swinging, and meansincluding a single manually opi erated member for each of said'pairs ofarms to successively release the late-hing means for the arms ofdifferent pairs.

(5. An amusement apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted frame. meansto rotate the frame, arms hinged to the frame, there being a pluralityof' pairs of said arms and the arms of' each pair being positioneddiametrically opposite each other, a carriage connected with each arm,releasable means to hold cach of the arms against swinging, and meansincluding a single manually operated member for each of said pairs olarms to simultaneously release the latching means for both arms ofonepair independently of another pair of the arms.

7. An amusement apparatus comprising` a rotatably mounted frame, meansto rotate the frame, an arm hinged to the frame, a farriage connectedwith the arm, a cylinder mounted on the frame, a plunger in thecylinder, means to produce fluid pressure in the cylinder on one side otthe plunger to move the plunger in one direction and to thereafterrelieve said pressure, means to move the plunger in the oppositedirection when the pressure is released, a latch member on the arm, asecond latch member to releasably engage the first mentioned latchmember, and means operably connecting the second latch member to theplunger.

8. An amusement apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted trame, means torotate the frame, an arm hinged to the frame, a carriage connected withthe arm, a latch member on the arm, a second latch member to releasablyengage the first mentioned latch member, fluid pressure operated meansoperably connected with the second mentioned member, means operated byfluid pressure to control the flow of fluid to the lirst mentionedmeans, and electrically operated means to control the flow of' fluid tothe second mentioned means.

9. An amusement apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted frame, means torotate the frame, an arm hinged to the frame, a carriage connected withthe arm, a latch member on the arm, a second latchmember to releasablyengage the first mentioned latch member, fluid pressure operated meansopcrably connected with the second mentioned member, valve means tocontrol the flow of fluid to and from the first mentioned means, acylinder, a plunger in the cylinder to operate the lirst mentioned valvemeans, valve means to control the flow of fluid to and from thecylinder, an armature to operatc the second mentioned valve means, and asolenoid to operate the armature.

l0. An amusement apparatus comprising a support, rollers mounted on thesupport, a tower having an axial standard and having a race resting onthe rollers, a bearing on the support for the standard to rotate in,means to rotate the tower, means to convey compressed air through thestandard, a manifold pipe mounted on the tower connected with saidmeans, arms hinged to the upper portion of' the tower, a carriageconnected with each arm, means to releasably hold each arm againstswinging when the tower rotates, an air operated means on the toweroperably connected to each of the lll arm-holding means, and a pluralityof elec trcally controlled valve means on the tower connected with themanifold pipe, each otl the electrically controlled valve meanscontrolling the flow of air to and from a plurality of the air operatedmeans. Y

1l. An amusement apparatus comprising` a rotatably mounted frame, meansto rot-.ate

the frame, an arm hinged to tlie frame, a rarriage connected with thearm, releasable means to latch tlie arm against outward swinging' whenthe frame rotates5 and means yieldingly resisting the arm as it swingsinward into lateliing position.

l2. An amusement apparatus comprising a support, beams rockably mountedat in tervals in a circle on the support. rollers rotatablymounted oneach beam,a frame having a circular race resting on the rollers,

EDVARD K. VOOD. CONSTANCE I. METZGER. flclme'aszfmtr of the Estate ofJohn Metzger, Deceased.

